Cheapest place to buy heated airers this week as Aldi’s sell-out gadget returns to shelves
ALDI has confirmed its sell-out heated airer is returning to its shelves this week.
Shoppers will be able to buy the popular product from the German discounter’s middle aisle from Thursday, September 19.
In recent years, the device, which lets you dry your clothing without turning on the central heating or using a tumble dryer, has flown off the shelves.
Customers have praised it for helping them warm up their home and dry their clothes without breaking the bank.
Aldi’s heated airer could offer a budget-friendly solution for many families as it costs just 6p to run and will set you back £34.99 when it lands in stores.
The large 230W drying device can hold 10kg of washing, including towels and bedding.
You have to plug it in to get the bars to heat up, as otherwise it functions as a regular drying rack.
It costs less than 50p to use for eight hours, compared to a 2500W tumble dryer costs which costs about 85p to use for just one hour.
Aldi has calculated that under the current price cap, where electricity costs on average 22p per kwh, its device typically costs around 6p per hour to run.
However, the exact cost will vary depending on where you are and how you pay your bill.
Leaving it on for longer will land you with a larger bill than using it in small doses.
If you want to get your hands on one you will have to act quickly, as this product is an Aldi Specialbuy and has a limited amount for sale. This means once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Heated airers can save money on your energy bill as they offer a cheaper alternative to drying your clothes on the radiator.
This method can become costly, as it requires you to turn on the central heating.
You can buy covers for some as well, which speeds up the time it takes to dry your clothes.
But how does Aldi’s sell-off airer compare to other products?
Here, we take a look at the products other retailers are selling.
Dunelm
Dunelm is selling a heated airer with wings for £40 – just £5 more than the one sold by Aldi.
The retailer estimates its version also costs around 6p per hour to run and just like Aldi’s version, it can hold up to 10kg of washing.
In the reviews section of Dunelm’s website, a customer described the heated airer as “very handy”, and another added: “Absolutely brilliant, ideal for our weather, used it on wet day with the cover on and my washing was dry in no time.”
But despite the positive reviews, some shoppers claimed theirs didn’t work well, either taking too long to dry or breaking after a few months.
Amazon
A heated airer is currently on sale at Amazon for £109.99, down from the original price of £155.
The hefty three-tier airer can hold up to 15kg of washing and costs an average of 8.4p to run per hour, according to the online retailer.
Reviewers on the platform praised the product for saving them money on their electricity bills, with others praising the fact that it dries clothes quickly.
Wilko
Wilko is selling an electric clothes airer for £45.50 – just £10.51 more than Aldi’s product.
It has 20 heated bars and can hold up to 10kg of clothing.
It is described on the retailer’s as “economical and energy-efficient” and Wilko said it is easy to clean too.
The product comes with a 135cm cable and can fit in most spaces.
B&Q
You can also buy a foldable clothes dryer from B&Q for £44.99.
The dryer has 18 rails and can accommodate a full load of up to 10 kg.
B&Q says temperatures can reach between 45C and 55, and the appliance “boasts a rapid heat-up time of 10 minutes to reach its operational temperature.”
The retailer adds: “In addition to its efficiency, the low energy consumption of 230W costs less than 8p an hour to run, which will not only help to reduce your utility bills but also contributes to a greener planet.
“When not in use, this dryer is incredibly easy to fold and lightweight, making storage a breeze.”
It also comes complete with a protective cover to reduce drying times and shield your clothes from dust, preserving their freshness until you’re ready to wear them.
Argos
Argos currently has a promotion on a three-tier heated airer that you can buy for £69.97 instead of the original price of £105.
This product has a drying capacity of 15kg and is easy to carry around since it’s made from aluminium.
Most of the reviews on Argos’ website are positive with a customer recently writing: “Very convenient, I use in conservatory and also outside in summer as clothes airer but not plugged in. Lightweight and easy to move.”
Another added: “Fantastic product. Cheap to run and easy to store. Works really well does not take up too much room when in use.”
Lakeland
Lakeland also sells heated airers, including the Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Airer which is currently on sale for £199.99 – down from £249.99.
The retailer says the airer costs around 9p per hour to run and can hold an average of two loads of washing.
Customers also get a three-year Lakeland guarantee when buying this dryer.
A happy shopper said they were “delighted” to have bought the airer and praised the fact that it comes with plenty of drying space.
Another customer added: “I love my DrySoon, especially for clothes I don’t wish to tumble dry.”
John Lewis
John Lewis is selling a three-tier heated indoor clothes airer for £100.
It is described as “extremely versatile” and can reach temperatures between 40C and 50C.
When buying the item, you are covered by John Lewis’ two-year guarantee.
A customer said she loved this heater so much that she bought two.
She wrote on the retailer’s website: “Absolutely love this heater. I have three teenage children and a lot of washing.
“I love the low electricity use and speedy drying time. I can have my washing dry in the same day, which is unheard of in my house.
“I dry clothes lying flat on the racks for extra speed. It’s a winner for me and a life-saver in terms of no longer having washing hanging around the house for days on end.”
When's the best time to shop at Aldi?
WHEN it comes to shopping at Aldi, the best time to do so depends on what you want to buy.
For reduced items – when shops open
Red sticker items are rare at Aldi’s 830 UK stores, but the supermarket says that none of its food goes to waste so there are some to be found – if you’re quick.
A spokesman for the supermarket said: “All items are reduced to 50 per cent of the recommend sales price before stores open on their best before or use by dates.”
That means you have the best chance of finding reduced food items if you go into stores as soon as it opens.
Opening times vary by shop but a majority open from 7am or 8am. You can find your nearest store’s times by using the supermarket’s online shop finder tool.
For Specialbuys – Thursdays and Sundays
Specialbuys are Aldi’s weekly collection of items that it doesn’t normally sell, which can range from pizza ovens to power tools.
New stock comes into stores every Thursday and Sunday, so naturally, these are the best days to visit for the best one-off special deals.
For an even better chance of bagging the best items, head there for your local store’s opening time.
You don’t have to head into stores to bag a Specialbuy, though.
They also go on sale online, usually at midnight on Thursday and Sunday, and you can pre-order them up to a week in advance.
As long as you spend at least £25, you’ll get the items delivered for free.
Remember: once they’re gone, they’re gone, so if there’s something you really want, visit as early as possible
Out of all the retailers analysed, Aldi is currently the cheapest but is closely followed by Dunelm, Wilko and B&Q.
Always remember to shop around when buying something like this as you might find it cheaper elsewhere.
You can use websites like Price Spy and Trolley to compare prices on thousands of products across different retailers.
The Google Product tab is helpful for running a quick scan across the internet too.
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